While both were big offensive upgrades, the Raiders still had a defense that ranked 26th in total yards allowed, 19th in passing yards allowed and 30th in rushing yards allowed last season. The Oakland defense gave up an average of 29.2 points per game, which ranked dead last in all of football.

Knowing that upgrades need to be made ion that side of the ball, Gruden and Mayock struck on their first free agent signing, reportedly inking former Los Angeles Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner to a four-year contract, per Adam Schefter of ESPN: